Truth & Reconciliation in Vancouver - September 18 to 21

B.C. has the largest national event planned in Canada. I hope that social workers in the Lower Mainland will find a way to participate in some of the events. 


The Reconciliation March will be held on Sunday, March 22nd starting at Georgia and Hamilton and ending at Concord Pacific Place, 88 Pacific Blvd.

For more information, see the following article:

Reconciliation events seek to draw together native and non-native Canadians
Lori Culbert, Vancouver Sun, Sept. 13, 2013.

SEPTEMBER 11, 2013 – The Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada today released its program for the British Columbia National Event, taking place from September 18 to 21 at the Pacific National Exhibition in Vancouver. 

The BC National Event is the sixth of seven National Events mandated by the Indian Residential Schools Settlement Agreement. TRC events provide an important opportunity for those affected by the schools to share their experiences with the Commission and the public. They also offer Canadians a chance to bear witness to the legacy of the schools and to celebrate Aboriginal culture.

The BC National Event program can be viewed online or downloaded at www.trc.ca  (click on British Columbia National Event).

The program features a complete “Schedule at a Glance” for all activities as well as thumbnail sketches of all workshops, sharing panels and circles, discussion groups and special events. The program contains information about two events taking place at the Pacific Coliseum during the BC National Event: a FREE concert featuring George Leach, Inez Jasper, Leanne Goose, bitterly divine, Gary Fjellgaard and others on September 19, and the Vancouver Giants’ Tribute to First Nations hockey during their home-opener on September 20. Survivors of residential schools are eligible for discounted tickets.

Next week, the TRC will announce the names of those who will be inducted as Honorary Witnesses to the work of the Commission during the BC National Event. Honorary Witnesses are public figures who commit themselves to bear witness to the truths of residential school Survivors and share with others what they have learned.

The Truth and Reconciliation Commission is an independent commission established as a result of the 2007 Indian Residential Schools Settlement Agreement. Its court-ordered mandate is to inform all Canadians about what happened in the 150-year history of the residential schools, and to guide and inspire a process of reconciliation and renewed relationships based on mutual understanding and respect.